PureMix / Sonnox Mixing Contest!

[NoriSakamoto]

Hello this is NoriSakamoto
Please enjoy the song with my mix : )
I used ProTools HDX with some Sonnox AAX plugin .

 

[Spede]

I submitted my mix couple of days ago. Took the time to take couple of screenshots from my edit window today (including some volume rides).

While I felt the song was nothing short of amazing, I felt the arrangement was lacking just a bit of meat, especially for the choruses. So I ended up mangling some of the sounds quite a lot. I was using surprisingly lots of octavers in this mix (blending octave up or down with the original signal) to pull the weight of a track to a different direction. You see no plugins in my hihat tracks because they were rendered into the tracks (to save CPU time), the hihats sound very different from the original. The Puremix team is either going to love or hate my approach

There's a small Spike Stent wannabe living inside me when it comes mixing electronic music. I'm always trying to find the maximum dynamics for the song (via obsessive riding), yet use lots of compression and distortion bring some attitude to a song.

One thing worth pointing from the screenshots is the fact that every single track's output is routed to main out. Essentially I don't use auxes to group tracks together if there just isn't need to. IMO compressing 12 BV tracks individually sounds better than compressing them with a single compressor via aux. I also don't use any I/O template but create the FX (and the send/return) on the spot (usually right next to the track it's gonna be used on).

 

[imremeszaros]

Hi all, I'm new here, and my mix was made in Tracktion 4, and it was a lot of fun to do it. Respect for all the old members here, and for the pros, and best whishes to all of you, guys!

 

[doctorbob]

Hi all,

Another first timer here. My mix was done ITB with REAPER. Unlike others I re-bussed the tracks where necessary and my track count increased to 135! I decided to make my mix very dense, adding in subtle chorusing/delays/filters etc. Also wanted the main vocals to be a little "sharper" whilst keeping the BV's more "rounded". Only two FX buss tracks though. I bussed the kicks and then compressed and sidechained them with the phatty bass to give a bit more "punch" to the bass and kicks - worked pretty well I think. Used Waves and Stillwell plugs as well as a few rather ancient retro ones to add that "less digital" sound in places (if anyone knows what I mean!), and then also used some flange on some bits of vocal to add in extra top end!

My machine was just at it's limit for live mixing of all the tracks - might bouncedown/freeze some to release FX and general track count duties to get back a little CPU and do some finer tuning of the mix and then replace the track on the cloud - but, depends if I can find time!

Not been able to listen to my track as it sits "buffering" ... would be nice of a mod could say it's arrived safe and sound?

Oh yes, I am pretty much (very) old school being in my 60's! The track was fun to mix - I didn't need to use any automation. Was tempted in places to use a bit of volume and also fx automation, but decided that with a dense mix your brain can sort things out if the individual elements are well EQ'd.

Would be nice to hear other takes - will this be possible sometime?

Cheers all,

Rob (aka doctorbob

 

[erickp]

Howlin!

Just uploaded the song today. Groovy tune! All mixed on my laptop with headphones and an extra check in my sound system. All done in Studio One with mostly stock plugins + a little Ozone and Waves. Hope you guys like it!

View attachment Amber Skye - Howlin.mp3



Erick

 

[DanielW7]

Hello PureMix staff, producers and Amber!

Thanks for letting me be part of this contest!
I've now submitted my mix of Howlin.
When working with the mix I first processed each track individually to optimize its sonic potential.
I then rooted every stero-coupled element to one stereo Bus.
Each stereo bus was then tweeked and processed again so that the stereo signal would be balanced internally.
I then grouped all elements belonging to the same category (for example all drum elements) to one common Bus.
I then processed all those elements together so that they would fit nicely together.
I then rooted all the major Buses to the Master-bus and made the final master of the whole mix.
During the process I used the following components, working in Cakewalk Sonar Producer 8.5:

- Sonar Cakewalk Exciter
- Sonnox Oxford Inflator
- Voxengo LF Max Punch
- Voxengo Tube Amp
- Voxengo Polysquasher
- Voxengo Warmifier
- Voxengo Stereo Touch
- iZotop Alloy
- iZotop Ozone 5
- iZotope Nectar
- Sonar Cakewalk Phazer
- Sonitus Delay
- Gsnap Voicetuner
- RC24 Reverb

The mixing took 19 hours to complete.
I really enjoyed mixing and mastering someone else's material. It was very valuable for me and the journey was a pleasure. I wish you all the best in your continuing work.

Love /Daniel Vallberg, Addictive Tracks Ltd- Sweden

 

[DanielW7]

I'm very new to this forum. I hope that I've posted to the right thread.

 

[99s]

I just uploaded my mix.
Really great song. I had a very enjoyable time.

DAW : Studio One 2
Plugins : 2CAudio, FabFilter, Flux, Lexicon, Plugin Alliance, Slate Digital, Softube, Sonnox, SoundToys
Hardware : AVALON Vt-737sp
I/O : Apogee Symphony I/O
Monitor Speaker : EVE Audio SC207

Tsukumo (99Studio)

 

[baronsamedizomb]

hi guys, mix uploaded...
well i'm mixing on logic pro x, i really wanna mix "all in he box" no external gears, plugs used: nebula, fab filter,P&M, waves,alliance..no sonnox yet!!that's why i'm here!!!...it's not the kind of music i mix or i listen but i had fun explore techniques...

 

[doctorbob]

Hi Daniel,

I did what you did with REAPER. I used a folder for each of the main performance elements (vox/drum etc). Then I created a buss track for everything with a L+R stereo and muted off the 2 contributing tracks. Then I processed each item for my particular sonics. Then bussed like with like - eg kick1+kick2_+kick3 to a kick buss and muted the 3 sending. The "kick" then automatically routed to the folder master. I used a reverb buss and an FX buss.

In the track control panel (TCP), I just had the folder tracks so I can mix the macro level. The mixer panel had the individual amalgamated busses and fx busses so they could be "tweaked" in relation to the sonic content. Most tracks had surgical EQ on them (Bootsy or Waves VEQ), the kick was sidechained with the phatty bass.

On the master channel a simple chain of EQ+COMP+LIMIT (Stillwell 1973, Stillwell Bombadier, Waves L3). The 1973 is for an overall adjustment, rather then the surgical stuff on a pre track basis.

Took a few hours to get it all setup as I wanted it. Then a few hours mixing. On listening to the "original" I find some parts of mine are sonically similar and others dfferent (and more to MY taste, and I hope the producer/reviewer). I didn't listen/compare until I had a mix I liked. Sort of heartening to hear I was near someones' mark!!

Anyway, good luck to all. A nice little project to get our teeth around. My 3 yr old computer was creaking a bit!

Rob

 

[Luc Gabriel]

I like the concept of "not hearing" others work till end. Real life.

 

[CDKC]

Just finished my mix this morning was a lot of fun actually sitting back and taking on the mixer role with tracks. I actually didn't incorporate drums into the track, enjoyed the production without them actually. Felt this song deserved more of a ballad approach, thanks for the experience! Hope more competitions like this will be around.
-Chris

 

[Amaral Fortes]

One think i noticed in this song is that, to have a good final product, i would have to set up a lot of sidechains to give each instruments it's own place in the composition.

 

[mntnview]

I can't agree. It's actually a very well recorded and produced song. You'll probably hear it in a film soundtrack someday.

 

[mntnview]

Hi Joseph - glad to see you submitted a mix to the contest. I did as well. I hope all is well with you.


SAM

 

[doctorbob]

Hi all - still new to this - but I did find that sidechaining kicks to bass helped the bass, otherwise it was just a rumble rather than anything with some attack. With all the vocal activity I am still going to do some volume automation to make a bit more room for them to shine out in places (and re-upload). The kicks need some love in places too. I worked on the lead vocals to bring back some of the silibance and delayed its reverb to give the voice presence in the mix without having to do too much volume adjustment (but, never 100%, so a little work needed still).

I also derived sounds from the guitar vibe tracks as well as some of the BV's - this gave an interesting extra layer to the sound.

Hope we can hear other mixes after the comp. We can all learn, I certainly would like to get feedback as well as find out how others did things better than me :-(

Cheers all

Rob

PS The player now works if you need to check your upload. (Talked to G about it, and he's fixed it).

 

[thornig]

HI there, I just finished and uploaded my mix. I loved mixing this song, I love the song and the production, so well put together. This one was really fun!
PT 11, mostly UAD plugins and summed out to my SSL X-Rack going through a bunch of outboard gear

Good luck everyone (including me )!

 

[espenwestbye]

Hi there. Mix uploaded. My approach for this was to give the track alot of vocal and groove. So my vox have done alot of 76`ing and are also loving their fx. Bass line is heavy and with a BD with alot of meat (some side chain action).

Alot of tracks and audio infomation so L-C-R panning was a easy choice.

Felt abit old when i couldnt hear the Dog FX track, but some coffee and looking at the meters helped me =)

Really enjoyed to work on this. Work time : 1-2hour organizing, 5-6 hours mixing.

ITB [cubase 7.5]
converters : RME

 

[hydroflare]

That was a lot of fun mixing it in a day.
Vocals were spot on and with a good selection of harmonies to work with and build the emotion of the song. Very nice.
It's great when you have all the material ready to go, and not have to re-record or add extra stuff at the final stages of the production

 

[MelonJack]

Nice track!) I've enjoyed the ride =)) Good luck everyone!)